Discography of Celestine Ukwu (Celestine Obiakor)
Celestine Ukwu began his musical career during the 1960's with Michael Ejeagha's Paradise Rhythm Orchestra in Enugu, capital of the former Eastern Region of Nigeria. He left four years later to launch his own band, the Music Royals. Following a hiatus caused by the Biafran war of independence from 1967-70, the Music Royals were resurrected as the Philosophers National, who distinguished themselves with a series of sparkling, subtle highlife releases during the 1970s. Ukwu's signature tune is undoubtedly 1970's "Igede (Pt. 1)," an instrumental piece based on Igbo folklore. Its haunting melody was the basis for the tune "Elozekwana Nwanne Gi" by Enugu chanteuse Nelly Uchendu on her 1978 LP "Aka Bu Eze" (Homzy HCE 012). Ukwu's crowning achievement was arguably 1975's "Ejim Nk'onye," which combined Igbo poetry with passages of instrumental brilliance. Sadly, Ukwu perished in an automobile accident in 1977, depriving Nigerian music of one of its shining stars. Titles in this discography for which there are no track listings are taken from Ronnie Graham's "Sterns/DaCapo Guide to Contemporary African Music."
Celestine Ukwu & the Philosophers National also released issued many 45's in the early '70s which are not listed here. Many of these were included in his early LP's. Information on these recordings is solicited and greatly appreciated.
An earlier posting of this discography credited the LP Uru Gini (Polydor POLP 091) to Celestine Ukwu. In actuality it is by Celestine Obiakor, an Owerri-based musician.
- John Beadle
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Celestine Ukwu & His Music Royals of Nigeria
Onye Akwana Uwa b/w Onwu Bu Ugwo (7"; Nigerphone NXF400)
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Celestine Ukwu & His Music Royals of Nigeria
Ilo Oyi b/w Uwa Bu Olili (7"; Philips PF383209)
?
Celestine Ukwu & His Philosophers National
Onwunwa b/w Ife Sina Chi (7"; Philips PF384618)
?
Celestine Ukwu & His Philosophers National
Ejina Uwa Nya Isi b/w Ilo Bu Chi (7"; Philips 6259139PE)
1960s
The Republic Knights Orchestra
Aomawu Melo b/w Austerity Marriage (7"; Parlophone 45-NP 8)
--Celestine Ukwu, vocal.
1960s
The Republic Knights Orchestra (Celestine Ukwu, vocal)
Republic Knights Cha-Cha-Cha b/w Sera Ibuo Tene Banyio (7"; Parlophone 45-NP 10)
--Celestine Ukwu, vocal.
1968
Celestine Ukwu & his Music Royals of Nigeria
Ije Enu b/w Ngozi Chukwu Ka (7"45; Philips PF 383250)
1970
Celestine Ukwu
Onwunwa b/w Ife Sina Chi (7"45; Philips [Lagos] PF 384 618)
1971
Celestine Ukwu & his Philosophers National
True Philosophy (LP; Philips 6361 009)(CD; Premier Music [Lagos] KMCD 012 [as Igede])
[A] Igede (Pt. 1) / Uso Ndu / Onwunwa / Ife Si Na Chi / Ije Enu
[B] Ilo Oyi / Uwa Bu Olili / Onye Akwana Uwa / Onwu Bu Ugwo / Akwa Ana Ebe L'ego
1973
Celestine Ukwu & his Philosophers National
Tomorrow is So Uncertain (LP; Philips 6361 048)
[A] Tomorrow is So Uncertain / Ndu Bulu Ililo
[B] Uche Chukwuma / Man Proposes and God Disposes
1974
Celestine Ukwu & his Philosophers National
Ilo Abu Chi (LP; Philips 6361 058)(CD; Premier Music [Lagos] KMCD 018)
[A] Elege / Ejina Uwa Nya Isi / Obialu Be Onye Abiabunia / Okwukwe Na Nchekwube
[B] Mma Anyi Egbuna Anyi / Mmefie Adiro Mgbayalu Ama Di / Uwem Ereri Mbot Emi / Ilo Abu Chi
1974
Celestine Ukwu & his Philosophers National
Ndu Ka Aku (LP; Philips 6361 075)
[A] Nduka Aku / Ego Eju Aka / Onwu Ama Eze
[B] Ebemi / Ife Uwa Adi Agwuagwu / Chi Ji Oke
1975
Celestine Ukwu & his Philosophers National
Ejim Nk'onye (LP; Philips 6361 111)(CD; Premier Music [Lagos] KMCD 060)
[A] Ejim Nke Onye / Ima Echi
[B] Ome Ife Jide Ofo Pt. 1 / Asili
1976
Celestine Ukwu & his Philosophers National
Igede Fantasia (LP; Philips 6361 159)
[A] Grade by Grade / Money Palava
[B] Jisie Ike / Ome Ife Jide Ofo Pt. 2
1982
Celestine Ukwu & his Philosophers National
His Philosohphies (LP; Polydor POLP 093)
[A] Obialu Be Onye Abiagbunia / Uwem Ereri Mbot Emi / Ije Enu / Igede II
[B] Uso Ndu / Money Palaver / Elege
1997
Celestine Ukwu & his Philosophers National
Greatest Hits (CD; Flame Tree [UK] FL TRCD 532)
Ije Enu / Osondu / Ejina Uwa Nya Isi / Igbo Abuchi / Uwem Eberi Mbot Emi / Nma Anyi Egbuna Anyi / Okwukwe Na Nchekwube / Elege / Igede / Onwunwa / Ife Si Na Chi
- Not truly "greatest hits," but tracks from "True Philosophy" & "Ilo Abu Chi."
2001?
Celestine Ukwu
Best Collection Vol. 1 (CD; Premier Music [Lagos] PMCD011)
Igede Pt. 1 / Uso Ndu / Onwunwa / Ife Sina Chi / Ije Enu / Ilo Oyi / Uwa Bu Olili / Onye Akwana Uwa / Onwu Bu Ugwo / Akwa Ana Ebe L'ego
2001
Celestine Ukwu & his Philosophers National
The Best Collection Vol. 1 (CD; Premier Music [Lagos] PMCD 011)
Igede Pt. 1 / Uso Ndu / Onwunwa / Ife Sina Chi / Ije Enu / Ilo Oyi / Uwa Bu Olili / Onye Akwana Uwa / Onwu Bu Ugwo / Akwa Ana Ebe L'ego
2001?
Celestine Ukwu
Best Collection Vol. 2 (CD; Premier Music [Lagos] PMCD)
?
2001?
Celestine Ukwu
Best Collection Vol. 3 (CD; Premier Music [Lagos] PMCD 017)
Ndu Ka Aku / Ego Eju Aka / Onwu Ama Eze / Ebemi / Ife Uwa Adi Agwu Agwu / Chi Ji Oke / Omo Ife Jide Ofor Asili
2002?
Various Artists
High Life Kings Vol. 1 (CD; Premier Music [Lagos] KMCD 01)
Osondi Owendi (Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe) / Onye Uri Ubata (Mike Ejeagha) / Igede (Celestine Ukwu) / Usondu (Celestine Ukwu) / Bere Bote (Rex Lawson) / Omo Pupa (Dr. Victor Olaiya) / Joromi (Sir Victor Uwaifo) / Kwue Nkenyi (Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe) / Anate (Rex Lawson) / Okwudili (Paulson Kalu) / Ugwu Onyirika Watu (Paulson Kalu) / Sanmari Adugbo (Wuru Fadaka)
2003?
Celestine Ukwu & his Philosophers National
Best Collection Vol. 4 (CD; Premier Music [Lagos] KMCD 018)
Elege / Ejina Uwa Nya Isi / Obialu be Onye Abiagbunia Okwu / Na Nchekwube / Mma Anyi Egbuna Anyi / Mmefie Adiro Mgbayalu / Ama Di
2003?
Various Artists
The Kings of Highlife (CD; Wrasse Records [UK] WRASS 097)
Guitar Boy (Sir Victor Uwaifo) / Makojo (Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe) / Joromi (Sir Victor Uwaifo) / Omo Pupa (Dr. Victor Olaiya) / Osondi Owendi (Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe) / Anate (Sir Rex Jim Lawson) / Okwudili (Paulson Kalu) / Sanmari Adugbo (Wura Fadaka) / Esonta (Chief Inyang Henshaw) / Ikpechakwa A-Akem Kpee (Gentle Man Ejeagha) / Igede (Celestine Ukwu) / Bere Bote (Sir Rex Jim Lawson) / Usondu (Celestine Ukwu) / So Fun Mi (Dr. Victor Olaiya)
--An abbreviated version of the 2-volume Premier Records set High Life Kings (above).
-- This discography was compiled, in collaboration with Toshiya Endo, by John Beadle at P.O. Box 100174, Milwaukee, WI 53210 USA.
For weblog, visit (http://likembe.blogspot.com/), and
E-mail to John Beadle
Special thanks to Kazutoshi Tsuchiyama, Gilbert Hsiao, Michael Kieffer, Kazuya Ogiwara, Zim Bida...
Last updated on October 12, 2015
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